Najib still the best to lead M'sia, says ex-premier

Kuala Lumpur (The Star/ANN) - Former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says his successor Najib Razak is still the best person to continue leading the country after the general election.

Abdullah said he was giving Najib his full support and hoped the latter would continue with his agenda for transformation.

"Malaysians have sent a clear message that they want change and Najib must respond to this by intensifying his transformation programme to address issues such as corruption, crime and the cost of living.

"I believe he has the right strategies in place to demonstrate improvement in these areas," Abdullah said in a statement today.

Abdullah is currently in Bahrain to attend the 31st Inter-Action Council Annual meeting.

Najib, who succeeded Abdullah on April 3, 2009, won a new mandate when Barisan Nasional secured 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats in last Sunday's general election to form the Federal Government.

Two days ago, Najib took the oath of office as prime minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah also called for national unity and reconciliation, saying that there must not be any attempt to racialise the election results by unfairly blaming any particular community.